[at-l] best spots in a shelter

[kellywin@earthlink.net (kellywin@earthlink.net)]

	Once, in the Smokies, I was sharing a shelter with a couple of weekenders.
The weekenders noticed that I was sleeping with my head pointing outward,
toward the shelter opening, and asked, "Why are you sleeping like that?
Isn't it safer to have your head inside, by the wall?" 
	I told them, "No, because of the mice. Mice LOVE walls and corners. If you
lie with your head next to the wall they'll be running right past it and
maybe even jumping on it."
	They flipped around faster than I would ever have thought anyone could do
while encased in a mummy bag! Pretty funny. But I bet they never slept with
their heads next to the wall again! 

	Another time I went hiking with a friend who's petrified of mice. I took
the spot by the wall, and believe me, it was a mouse-highway all night. I
was used to it and didn't care. My friend heard them scrabbling around and
got freaked out, so I gave her some earplugs--she slept great! Sometimes
it's better not to know.

Grace